Cheerleading is one of our fastest growing activities. However, the sport of cheerleading is undergoing constant change as teams experiment with different styles of presentation. Gymnastics, dance, acrobatics and music interpretation are just some of the areas now being explored. The CYO leads all other organizations in the adoption of strict safety guidelines to govern our cheerleading competitions.Any team that attempts stunts, maneuvers or acrobatics that are deemed to be unsafe or for which it seems evident that the team members have not been adequately trained SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIED!

All gymnastic/acrobatic movements MUST be performed with adequate spotters. It is the COACH’S responsibility to see that the squad members do not attempt to perform ANY stunts or movements for which they have not been properly trained.

The ranking CYO OFFICIAL at a competition has the authority to disqualify any squad for the above violations and does not have to consult with the judging panel.

CHEERLEADING COMPETITION

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

DIVISIONS

Biddy

4th Grade and under (Judged and Non-Judged

Debs

up to and including 6th graders

Elementary Varsity

up to and including 8th graders

High School Junior Varsity

1st and 2nd year

High School Varsity

1st to 4th year

Note: Debs & Elementary Varsity include the following subdivisions:

Regular - no limitNovice - no limit

CYO Elementary Competitions follow the Guidelines of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators (guidelines can be found on the AACCA website at www.aacca.org) and CYO guidelines.

All gymnastic/acrobatic movements MUST be performed with adequate spotters. It is the Coach’s responsibility to see that squad members do not attempt to perform ANY stunts or movements for which they have not been properly trained.

Any team that attempts stunts, maneuvers, or acrobatics that are deemed to be unsafe or for which it seems evident that the team members have not been adequately trained SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIED!

The ranking CYO OFFICIAL at a competition has the authority to disqualify any squad for the above violations and does not have to consult with the judge panel.

If there is ONE (1) male member of a team, the team is considered co-ed.

INTERRUPTION OF PERFORMANCE

If, in the opinion of the CYO officials, a routine is interrupted because of failure of equipment (sound, mats) facilities or other factors attributable to the competition provided by the CYO rather than the squad, the squad affected should stop the routine. The squad will be allowed to present its routine from the place in the routine where interruption occurred.

In the event a squad’s routine is interrupted because of failure of the squad’s own equipment, the squad must either continue the routine or withdraw from the competition.

In the event that an injury causes the squad’s routine to be interrupted, the squad must either continue the routine or withdraw from the competition. CYO Officials reserve the right to stop a routine because of injury.

HIGHLIGHTS OF GENERAL SAFETY RULES

Coaches must require proficiency before skill progression. Coaches must consider the individual, group, and team skill levels with regard to proper performance level placement.

Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Soft-soled tennis shoes must be worn while competing; no jazz shoes and/or boots will be allowed.

Jewelry of any kind is prohibited. This includes nose, tongue, and belly button rings, earrings, necklaces and pins on uniforms. Jewelry must be removed and may not be taped over or covered.

Only the following props are allowed: flags, banners, megaphones, poms, and signs. Flags and/or banners with poles or similar support apparatus may not be used in conjunction with a stunt or tumbling.

The use of any height increasing apparatus (e.g. mini-trampoline) is not allowed.

A spotter is required for extended stunts.

A spotter:

Must be in direct contact with the performing surface.

Must be attentive to the skill being spotted.

Must be in the proper position to prevent injuries and does not have to be in direct contact with the stunt.

Cannot stand so that their torso is under a stunt.

Must be dressed in uniform.

Must appear on the roster.

Only mascots in the high school division will have access to the locker room. Mascots should be

in costume and must be on the roster.

PLEASE NOTE:

It is the coach’s responsibility to see that the squad members do not attempt to perform any stunts or movements that they are not properly trained for or capable of performing.

Lyrics and music must be appropriate for CYO.

Flowers and balloons will not be permitted in the gymnasium.

Each squad will receive three (3) coach’s passes. Additional passes may be purchased for $100 per pass. All coaches must be on the roster.

All cheerleaders will need tickets to enter additional competitions. Children of all ages, including infants and toddlers, need tickets to enter any competitions.

Coaches must leave the building after each competition. They may re-enter at the locker room door with their credentials. No one else may enter with the coach. If you are with a child or a cheerleader holding a ticket, you can either wait on the regular line with them or meet them inside. No exceptions will be made.

Coaches will wait in a holding area and be allowed into the gym when the front doors open. Coaches are asked not to save seats. If any abuse of this privilege is reported this year, e.g. being found anywhere in the building after a competition, trying to go straight to the holding area without leaving the building, asking for a ticket holder to be let in with you at the locker room door, being found anywhere in the building aside from the holding area before the front doors open, being found anywhere outside the gym area during other competitions, saving seats, giving your credentials to someone else, etc., then this courtesy will not be extended in the future.

BIDDY RULES

General Tumbling – Biddy

A.All tumbling must originate from and land on the performing surface. Tumbler may NOT rebound from his/her feet into a stunt transition.

B.Tumbling over, under, or through a stunt, individual, or prop, is prohibited.

C.Tumbling while holding or in contact with any prop is prohibited.

D.Spotted, assisted, or connected tumbling is prohibited. (Example: Double cartwheels and chorus line flips are illegal.)

E.Dive rolls performed in a swan or layout position are prohibited.

Standing Tumbling – Biddy

A.Series front and back handsprings are NOT allowed.

B.No jump skills are allowed in immediate combination with a standing handspring.

(e.g. no toe touch back handsprings or back handspring toe touches)

C. No twisting while airborne. (Exception: Round offs)

D. Back Tucks are prohibited.

Running tumbling – Biddy

A.No twisting while airborne. (Exception: Round offs)

B.Airborne skills must involve hand support with at least one hand when passing through the inverted position. (Example: one-handed cartwheels are permitted, aerials and whip back handsprings are not.)

A.Cradles from multi-based stunts at prep level must have two (2) catchers and a separate spotter positioned at the head and shoulder area of the top person.

B.Dismounts to the performing surface from stunts and pyramids must be assisted by the original bases.

C.Cradles are allowed from all prep-level stunts.

D.No free flipping or assisted flipping dismounts allowed.

E.Tension drops/rolls of any kind are prohibited.

Release Moves – Biddy

A.No release moves allowed.

B.Helicopters are not allowed.

Inversions – Biddy

A.No inversions above or at ground level allowed. (Transitions from ground level inversions to non-inverted positions are not allowed.) (Example: Going from a handstand on the ground to a non-inverted stunt such as a shoulder sit is illegal.)

Pyramids – Biddy

A.Pyramids must follow Biddy “Stunts” and “Dismounts” rules and are allowed up to 2 high with the following exceptions: Extended single-leg stunts are not permitted. Single-leg stunts must be braced by at least one top person at prep level or below and the connection to the brace(s) can be hand or foot and must be established at or below prep level. The top person of the prep level brace(s) must have both feet in both bases hands. (Exception: shoulder sit, double base thigh stand or shoulder stand.)

B.No stunt, pyramid, or individual may move over or under another stunt, pyramid or individual (e.g. shoulder sits walking under prep).

C.Extended stunts are not permitted. Exception: Flat back “dead man” with 4 bases.

D.Cradles are allowed from all prep-level stunts in pyramids.

Tosses – Biddy

A.All tosses (basket, squish from hands, etc.) are prohibited.

NOVICE RULES

General Tumbling – Novice

A.All tumbling must originate from and land on the performing surface. (Exception: Tumbler may rebound from his/her feet into a stunt transition.)

B.Tumbling over, under, or through a stunt, individual, or prop, is prohibited.

C.Tumbling while holding or in contact with any prop is prohibited.

D.Spotted, assisted, or connected tumbling is prohibited. (Example: Double cartwheels and chorus line flips are illegal.)

E.Dive rolls performed in a swan or layout position are prohibited.

Standing Tumbling – Novice

A.Series front and back handsprings are allowed.

B.No jump skills are allowed in immediate combination with a standing handspring. (e.g. No toe touch back handsprings or back handspring toe touches)

C.No twisting while airborne. (Exception: Round offs)

D.Back Tucks are prohibited.

Standing Tumbling – Novice

A.No twisting while airborne. (Exception: Round offs)

B.Airborne skills must involve hand support with at least one hand when passing through the inverted position. (Example: one –handed cartwheels are permitted, aerials and whip back handsprings are not.)

C.Series front and back handsprings are allowed.

D.Base Tucks are prohibited.

Partner Stunts– Novice

A.A spotter is required for all extended stunts.

B.Single-leg extended stunts are not permitted. Extensions are permitted and must include 2 bases, a back spotter and a front spotter.

C.Single-leg stunts may not be held at or pass through an extended position. (Clarification: passing through an extended position is illegal. If it is obvious to the judge that the intent of the stunt group is to gain a competitive advantage by passing through an extended position, than it is a violation of this rule. Taking the top person above the head of the bases would be illegal.)

D.During transitions, both bases must remain in contact with the top person.

H.When catching a transitional stunt that is above prep level, at least three (3) catchers are required.

Dismounts – Novice

A. Cradles from single-leg stunts at prep level must have a back spotter supporting the head

and shoulder area of the top person.

B.Dismounts to the performing surface from stunts and pyramids must be assisted by an

original base. .

C. Cradles are allowed from all stunts.

D. No free flipping or assisted flipping dismounts allowed.

E.Tension drops/rolls of any kind are prohibited.

Release Moves – Novice

C.No release moves allowed.

D.Helicopters are not allowed.

Inversions – Novice

B.No inversions above or at ground level allowed. (Transitions from ground level inversions to non-inverted positions are allowed.) (Example: Going from a handstand on the ground to a non-inverted stunt such as a shoulder sit is legal.)

Pyramids – Novice

E.Pyramids must follow Novice “Stunts” and “Dismounts” rules and are allowed up to 2 high with the following exceptions: Extended single-leg stunts are not permitted. Single-leg stunts must be braced by at least one top person at prep level or below and the connection to the brace(s) can be hand or foot and must be established at or below prep level. The top person of the prep level brace(s) must have both feet in both bases hands. (Exception: shoulder sit, double base thigh stand or shoulder stand.)

F.No stunt, pyramid, or individual may move over or under another stunt, pyramid or individual (e.g. shoulder sits walking under prep).

G.Extended stunts (extensions) may not brace or be braced by any other extended stunts.

H.Cradles are allowed from extended stunts and single-leg prep level stunts in pyramids.

Tosses – Novice

C.All tosses (basket, squish from hands, etc.) are prohibited.

CHEERLEADING SAFETY GUIDELINES

All teams must be supervised during all official functions by a qualified director/coach.

Coaches must require proficiency before skill progression. Coaches must consider the individual, group, and team skill levels with regard to proper performance level placement.

All teams, gyms, coaches and directors should have an emergency response plan in the event of an injury.

Soft-soled shoes must be worn while competing. No dance shoes/boots, and/or gymnastics slippers (or similar) allowed. Shoes must have a solid sole. If you can roll it up and put it in your pocket, it’s illegal.

Jewelry of any kind including but not limited to ear, nose, tongue, belly button and facial rings, clear plastic jewelry, bracelets, necklaces and pins on uniforms are prohibited. Jewelry must be removed and may not be taped over. (Exception: medical ID tags/bracelets, and uniform rhinestones. Rhinestones are illegal when adhered to the skin as opposed to a uniform. Temporary tattoos are also allowed.)

Routines shall not exceed 3 minutes. A ten-point deduction will be given for any routine that exceeds 3 minutes. Cheerleaders must have at least one foot on the performing surface when the routine starts.

Any height increasing apparatus used to propel a competitor is prohibited.

Casts that are hard and unyielding or have rough edges must be appropriately covered with a padded material.

Flags, banners, signs, poms poms, and megaphones are the only props allowed. Props with poles or similar support apparatus may not be used in conjunction with any kind of stunt or tumbling. All props must be safely discarded out of harms way (e.g. throwing a hard sign across the mat from a stunt would be illegal). Any uniform piece purposefully removed from the body and used for visual effect will be considered a prop.

On the level grid, all skills allowed for a particular level encompass all skills allowed in the preceding level.

Spotters are required for all levels and they must be your own team’s members.

Drops including but not limited to knee, seat, thigh, front, back, and split drops from a jump, stunt, or inverted position are prohibited unless the majority of the weight is first borne on the hands/feet, which breaks the impact of the drop. Shushinovas are allowed.